Author John Grobe recently asked FedSmith readers which topics were of most interest on the topic of federal retirement. The answer: Should a federal retiree who is nearing 65 sign up for Medicare’s Part B? Here is an explanation of the considerations in making this decision.
It’s an election year. Here are several proposals that have been made that would impact the civil service structure and the benefits of some current federal employees.
Should smokers who participate in the federal employee health plan pay more for health insurance than non-smokers?
Government spending to recover from Hurricane Katrina means spending cuts will probably be necessary in other government programs. One possibility is changing the formula for calculating federal employee pension benefits.
OPM has delayed the start of the dental and vision program for federal employees.
Costs of the FEHB continue to go up each year. The impact on retirees is significant and legislation is pending that may provide some relief. The long-term challenge to OPM will be to control costs and to balance benefits.
